Best TV Streaming Services

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 6, 2019

If you haven't done so already, it is high time to cut the cord and enjoy the freedom that any of the TV streaming services will be able to offer you. In this review, we present you with a streaming services comparison that will help you make the right choice....Read more...Read less

The service has a pretty substantial selection of Korean, British, and Latino programming. Furthermore, Hulu has anybody but Crunchyroll beat when it comes to anime series as well, with hundreds of anime series in its library. From the recent hits like One Punch Man or My Hero Academia to the classics such as Cowboy Bebop, Slayers, or Trigun, Hulu has it all.

CONS

A small part of the content is not available in High Definition.

OUR VERDICT

Hulu TV will prove to be the best streaming tv service for people that do not wish to pay for multiple streaming services and do not have any specific requirements. It may not be the most exceptional option on the market but it is by far the most complete package you can get.

The application incorporates a pretty extensive parental control feature that will allow parents to filter new releases in order to prevent their children from "enjoying" the nudity and the violence of shows like Game of Thrones. You will be able to install or access the HBO Now app on just about any computer or gadget out there, including Chromecast, Roku, and Amazon Fire tablets.

CONS

The choices are limited only to HBO content.

OUR VERDICT

If you consider yourself a fan of television series capable of keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat and challenging him with the most daring ideas and some of the most convoluted worlds, HBO Now is the best video streaming service for you. And if you'd like to receive access to as many mediocre shows as possible, you might want to look someplace else.

One of the most affordable subscription plans. The 24/7 live-streaming news channel will allow you to stay informed about everything that's happening around the world. Star Trek: Discovery is by far the most impressive science fiction show on TV right now.

CONS

Not a whole lot of movies to choose from.

OUR VERDICT

While most people probably wouldn't refer to CBS All Access as the best tv streaming service that money can buy, the number of shows you get in return for six bucks a month is nothing short of impressive. Add to that the ability to watch NFL and you have yourself a truly reliable service.

The app is clean and compact, a mixture of black, gray, and white colors looks pleasant, the design is incredibly coherent, with occasional orange accents to highlight some of the more important features. The app also comes with a DVR function, meaning that you will be able to record games and TV shows in order to watch them later on.

CONS

Does not offer access to ESPN or CNN.

OUR VERDICT

If you happen to be a sports fan, you owe it to yourself to give fuboTV a try. While there are plenty of live tv streaming services out there, none of them can match this one when it comes to a number of options regarding sports-related content.

The basic plan will offer you access to 50 channels, including primetime broadcast shows from all four major networks, all of the ESPN channels, a number of regional sports networks, as well as cable news. On top of that, the service will allow you to pause and rewind live TV, with more channels than any of the service's competitors.

CONS

The interface of the web app is inconvenient and confusing.

OUR VERDICT

PlayStation Vue is definitely one of the better streaming tv services that the market has to offer. Though the cost is a bit stiff, the number of channels you'll have access to makes the price well worth it. Plus, you can share a single account with up to four people.

Hulu TV Streaming Service

Little Bit of Everything

To be entirely honest with you, Hulu TV service isn't necessarily the most exceptional option on the streaming market. While it does offer a number of exclusives, some of the other services have more of those up their sleeves, and a decent part of those exclusives are not that exciting to the mainstream audience. Furthermore, some of those shows aren't even available in High Definition, let alone Ultra HD. Nevertheless, if you are planning on getting only one streaming service, we would recommend looking no further than towards the Hulu TV.

First of all, Hulu offers arguably the most comprehensive library of television shows. From its inception, the service has been all about TV, and while they do offer a whole lot more than just a bunch of TV shows, the latter philosophy has remained prevalent. With Hulu TV, you will have access to thousands of seasons and hundreds of different shows. Whether you would like to revisit Seinfeld or spend your time with the Ewings family from Dallas, this is one of those video streaming services that will be able to lend you a helping hand.

On-Air Television

Of course, plenty of other services offer access to a pretty comprehensive library full of great television series. But where Hulu has most of them beat is the currently airing shows from such major networks as ABC, Fox, and NBC. Generally speaking, you will receive access to an episode of the show only a day after it was aired on the network. Of course, you won't be able to access the original shows from other streaming services though, if it is a Showtime or HBO series, you can pay for an add-on and watch these shows through the Hulu app.

Speaking of original series, Hulu isn't one of those streaming tv services that intend to trail behind the competition when it comes to that department either. Sure, the number of those series pales in comparison to Netflix and the quality can't rival HBO, but The Handmaid's Tale will be able to compete with any of those series as far as gripping narratives go, the Marvel's Runaways will bring joy to teenagers and millions of comic book fans, while the Difficult People will make you laugh just as hard as any quality sitcom would.

Complete Package

As much as we all love a good TV show, if you would like to live through a story that is both entertaining and complete without wasting every evening of your life for the next month, a feature film is where it's at. And as far as feature films are concerned, Hulu has you covered with a number of classic movies and a pretty solid choice of the new stuff.

Movies aside, Hulu TV will also prove to be a great choice for people that would like to broaden their entertainment horizons as the service has a pretty substantial selection of Korean, British, and Latino programming. Furthermore, Hulu has anybody but Crunchyroll beat when it comes to anime series as well. Where Netflix or any other service that isn't strictly anime oriented won't offer you more than a few dozen shows, Hulu will provide you with the opportunity to enjoy one of the hundreds anime series in its library. From the recent hits like One Punch Man or My Hero Academia to the classics such as Cowboy Bebop, Slayers, or Trigun, Hulu has it all.

It is the same story with their application, too. Sure, the interface may seem somewhat counterintuitive and bland at times, but you can install it on virtually any media-streaming device out there, even Nintendo Switch, and that is something that can't be said about other services. In conclusion, we would say that Hulu TV will prove to be the best streaming tv service for people that do not wish to pay for multiple streaming services and do not have any specific requirements. It may not be the most exceptional option on the market but it is by far the most complete package you can get.

HBOnow TV Streaming Service

New Era of Television

Television shows used to be full of these repetitive, unoriginal stories that would reel you in with a ridiculously overcomplicated and prolonged plot and keep you on the hook for years in order to inevitably bring nothing but disappointment in the long run. And while there are still plenty of series like that, the days when these types of shows dominated the television market are over now and, to a certain degree, we have HBO to thank for that. It is HBO, along with a small number of other channels, that paved the way for television series that didn't rely on the same tropes and rubbish tricks to fool the viewer into watching subpar television.

Of course, you had to have access to HBO Go in order to enjoy all of HBO's exceptional shows, but with a huge number of people canceling their cable subscriptions, it makes sense that HBO came up with HBO Now in order to accommodate their new cord-cutting audience. For 15 bucks a month, you will have access to everything that HBO has and ever had to offer. Sure, it isn't one of the cheaper streaming tv services, but this is HBO we're talking about, so you can't compare the prices the same way you can't compare the ridiculously high quality of their content compared to any of the originals produced by other networks and streaming services.

A Story for Everyone

That said, just in case you're somehow unfamiliar with HBO and all that the channel has to offer, the first thing we would like to say is that HBO Now isn't the sort of service you should subscribe to if you're interested in having access to as much digital content as possible. That's not to say that the number of movies and television shows you will have at your immediate disposal is underwhelming, with over 700 high-quality films, including astounding documentaries, and over 100 television series. And even though the company promises to expand that list to over 2000 titles in the near future, the majority of HBO's competitors boast a far more impressive number of digital entries.

So, if other companies offer access to much more content, why would people subscribe to HBO Now? Well, because even if you combine all of the rest live tv streaming services together, the number of exceptional original series that they will be able to offer still wouldn't hold a candle to HBO. This network just has it all, from the most gripping crime series of the early 2000s such as The Wire or The Sopranos to the most critically acclaimed shows of the modern era, be it the fantastic world of Game of Thrones, the gruesome reality of Westworld, or the bleak, depressing, yet incredibly captivating story of two cops trying to unveil a cult conspiracy in True Detective.

Parental Control

With digital content out of the way, not much is left to say about this streaming service except for the few technicalities, such as the app and all of the devices you can install it on. When it comes to the former, the application borrows a page out of the Go book by utilizing an intuitive interface that just about anybody will be able to operate. And since the majority of HBO hit series aren't necessarily what you would describe as kid-friendly, the people behind this app made sure to implement a pretty extensive parental control feature that will allow parents to filter new releases in order to prevent their children from enjoying the nudity of Game of Thrones or the depressing tones of True Detective.

As far as devices are concerned, you will be able to install or access the HBO Now app on just about any computer or gadget out there, from an iPad or an iPhone to everything from Android, as well as Chromecast, Roku, and Amazon Fire tablets. So, if you consider yourself a fan of television series capable of keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat and challenging him with the most daring ideas and some of the most convoluted worlds, HBO Now is the best video streaming service for you. And if you'd like to receive access to as many mediocre shows as possible, you might want to look someplace else.

CBS Stream Live TV, Sports and News

All About TV

As the name suggests, CBS All Access gives you access to everything that is currently airing on this network and pretty much everything that the company ever aired. Of course, the service will not provide you with the access to original shows from other networks and streaming tv services, such as HBO, Hulu, or Netflix. Aside from limitations in terms of television series, the number of feature films and documentaries you will be able to watch is also seriously limited, so if you do not particularly care for TV shows and consider yourself to be more of a movie guy, this is probably not the best option for you. That said, CBS All Access does have quite a few tricks up its sleeve that may just convince you to give this streaming service a shot.

The first thing that people generally pay attention to when it comes to these services is the price they have to pay in order to access it. Incidentally, this is also one of the biggest strengths of the streaming service from CBS. For the entire first month, the company will allow you to access everything that their network has to offer for free. After that, it will take no more than six bucks to enjoy all of their shows with limited commercials or ten dollars if you would like to get rid of those commercials altogether.

Not a Network but THE Network

Now, people might think that having access only to a single network might limit their options. And while that is certainly true, we aren't necessarily talking about some random network here. No, we're talking about one of the biggest and oldest television networks in America, so your options won't be quite as limited as you'd think. CBS All Access will let you choose from one of the 10 thousand episodes on demand, so you will have the opportunity to finally catch up with NCIS or to reminisce about the good old days with the first few seasons of The Big Bang Theory, back when that show was about a group of nerds passionate about their hobbies and not another run-of-the-mill sitcom about relationships between couples.

And if you do not care for the above, this streaming service has you covered with a variety of new original series that you wouldn't be able to access using any of the competitor's products. And as much fun as The Good Fight and No Activity can be, it is no secret that the majority of people subscribe to this service mostly for Star Trek: Discovery, the latest take on the most popular science fiction television series. And, let's just say that, given the measly price, the latter show alone makes it worth it.

Stay Informed

Having said that, it isn't just a number of iconic television shows and original series that All Access has to offer. As any NFL fan knows, the CBS network has been broadcasting National Football League for over 70 years now, so the fact that their streaming service will allow you to watch your favorite game on just about any device you want should probably go without saying. For those people who love a good mixture of news, comedy, and social commentary, the service offers access to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and the slightly less serious The Late Late Show with James Corden. And if you do not particularly care for comedy, there's the CBSN, a 24/7 live-streaming news channel that will allow you to stay informed about everything that's happening around the world.

When it comes to the application, most people have somewhat mixed feelings. Though you're unlikely to encounter any sort of complications with it and the whole thing runs quite smoothly, the interface is far from what you'd describe as user-friendly. Nevertheless, while most people probably wouldn't refer to CBS All Access as the best tv streaming service that money can buy, the number of shows you get in return for six bucks a month is nothing short of impressive. Add to that the ability to watch NFL and you have yourself a truly reliable service.

FuboTV TV Streaming Service

Sports, Right?

We all love a good show, mostly for the story that some of the best television series can offer. But you know where else you can find some of the best storylines? That's right, sports. To the uninitiated, it might seem like a bunch of simpletons running around chasing a single ball, with even less intellectually impressive individuals cheering them on. But those of us who know better tend not to care about that nonsense. No, sports is about the story behind the event just as much as it is about the actual games, from the epic rivalries of Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers in the 80s to all of the scandals surrounding New England Patriots, the story and the narrative are just as important as the performance of these teams and players.

And that's exactly the sort of demographic that people at fuboTV had in mind when they were creating their streaming service. It is a service for sports enthusiasts from sports enthusiasts. Now, that's not to say that it doesn't offer access to the sort of content that doesn't have anything to do with sports, and we will get to that content in a moment. Just that you won't be getting your money's worth with this service if you do not care about sports at all.

Channels for You to Enjoy

Before getting to the heart of the matter, we would like to briefly touch upon the content that has nothing to do with sports. For those people who enjoy lifestyle content, fuboTV offers access to the Travel Channel, HGTV, and the Food Network. For financial news, you can refer to CNBC and FOX Business. The National Geographic is there for people that love to learn about nature and the world that surrounds us. The Weather Channel is available for people that got mentally stuck in the 1970s.

Finally, this streaming service will also give you access to FX, SYFY, USA, AMC, Sundance TV and a few other networks. With FX, you will be able to enjoy Fargo, Sons of Anarchy, Atlanta, as well as an American Crime Story. The USA channel offers a good variety of television series such as the Suits or White Collar as well as a number of entertaining shows and reality TV series like WWE and American Ninja Warrior. With AMC, you will access to The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad or its spinoff series, Better Call Saul. And for those people who couldn't care less about mainstream entertainment, SYFY and Sundance TV offer a number of science fiction shows and indie television series that present different ideas and challenge the stereotypes that often bound people behind some of the more popular television dramas.

Record the Match, Enjoy It Later

With all of that out of the way, we certainly wouldn't be able to conclude this review without bringing up the service's biggest advantage and the main idea behind its inception. As we have stated earlier, we're talking about sports. With fuboTV, you will have access to a number of sports channels that will satisfy even the most diehard sports fans that watch just about everything, from hockey and football to basketball and baseball. College football, Major League Soccer, March Madness, and even some of the more obscure sports such as cycling or golf, all within arm's reach.

By the way, accessing all of those channels won't prove to be a challenge whatsoever as the app is one of the strongest points of fuboTV. The whole thing is clean and compact, a mixture of black, gray, and white colors looks pleasant, the design is incredibly coherent, with occasional orange accents to highlight some of the more important features. The app also comes with a DVR function, meaning that you will be able to record games and TV shows in order to watch them later on. Just make sure to avoid spoilers and you should be good to go.

What else is there to say? If you happen to be a sports fan, you owe it to yourself to give fuboTV a try. While there are plenty of live tv streaming services out there, none of them can match this one when it comes to a number of options regarding sports-related content.

PlayStation Enjoy live TV,

Watch All of the Channels

Right off the bat, PlayStation Vue is certainly not the cheapest streaming service out there. Though you will be able to access a free trial and use everything that the service has to offer for five days completely free of charge, their cheapest subscription plan starts at 40 bucks a month and the most expensive one costs almost twice that much. Of course, the amount of content you will have access to stands head and shoulders above just about anything that any of the other video streaming services have to offer, and we will get to all of that content in a moment.

That said, we still wouldn't recommend this option to those people that only care about watching a few shows here and there. This is a service for individuals that have decided to cut the cord but would still like to replicate some of the experience they have had with their cable subscription. A service for the kind of people that are willing to pay for a real cable TV-style programming package. Among other things, their basic plan will allow you to access over 50 channels, providing you with the opportunity to enjoy everything that the television experience has and had to offer with a convenient access from any modern device. With PlayStation Vue, streaming tv channels has never been easier.

The Choice is Yours

Speaking of those 50 channels, we would like to mention that this number includes primetime broadcast shows from all four major networks, all of the ESPN channels, a number of regional sports networks, as well as cable news. A Disney Channel for your kids, a USA channel for those people who love the Suits, arguably the best legal drama of the modern era or Mr. Robot, one of the most outlandish television series and probably the first show that has managed to capture and depict the world of computer hacking in combination with global conspiracies. National Geographic for the curious minds that love to learn new things about our planet and AMC for those folks who would like to keep up with The Walking Dead.

Again, we have also mentioned ESPN channels and a number of regional sports networks, so it should probably go without saying that this is one of the better live tv streaming services for people that enjoy sports just as much as they love a good story. And if saying that you enjoy sports would be one heck of an understatement, for about 10 additional bucks a month, PlayStation Vue will allow you to access premium sports channels such as the NFL RedZone, the Fox College Sports, MLB Strike Zone, and a number of other exclusive programs.

Sharing is Caring

By the way, don't let the name fool you. Even though PlayStation Vue has PlayStation in its name, you don't need any iteration of this gaming console in order to access this service. In fact, you can do that from Roku boxes, Apple TV (2015), Amazon Fire TV, iOS, Android, and Android TV. The only popular media streaming device that this service doesn't work with is Xbox One, for obvious reasons.

Now, there are still a few other things worth mentioning that make this service stand out. First off, it incorporates a DVR feature that, as you'd imagine, will allow you to record any show that you have missed to watch it later, not dissimilar to the way Digital Video Recorder operates, hence the name. Furthermore, the service will provide you with the option to pause and rewind live TV, with more channels than any of the service's competitors. Finally, you can have up to five streams working simultaneously, meaning that five people can be using the same account at the same time. Ergo, you can ask a couple of your friends to chip in and acquire an account together.

All things considered, PlayStation Vue is definitely one of the better streaming tv services that the market has to offer. Though the cost is a bit stiff, the number of channels you'll have access to makes the price well worth it. Plus, you can share a single account with up to four people.

PlayStation Enjoy live TV,

What Is a TV Streaming Service?

Do you remember the times when people had to know the schedule of a television channel and adjust their plans according to it in order to catch an episode of their favorite show? We neither, despite the fact that the times we just mentioned haven't been gone for that long. But most of us would probably prefer to block the inconveniences of that approach from our memories since we live in a digital world now that allows us to watch anything we want, anytime we want it. Well, as long as you are subscribed to the right video streaming services. As you probably know by now, a video streaming service is a business model that offers people access to various television shows, movies, channels, and all kinds of digital content without a subscription to a cable or satellite television provider, targeting a demographic that is now being referred to as cord cutters. Since these services tend to be much cheaper and far more convenient than cable subscriptions, more and more people each day "cut the cord" in favor of one streaming service or the other. Of course, while all of them give you access to all kinds of digital entertainment, these services differ when it comes to the subscription plans they offer, the number of different shows and movies they have in store for you, as well as the access (or lack thereof) to different channels.

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